Thursday, June 15, 2017

The World is going to Hell in a Hand Basket

The World is going to Hell in a Hand basket

You may disagree with the title, but if you do, be alert for
the devil is prowling around looking for someone to devour. As the Apostle Paul
said to the Galatians who were bitterly divided, “If you bite and devour
each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:15). It seems that
our world predictably is falling into a chasm of angst and bitter grumbling and
complaining. God destroyed the whole generation of those who grumbled in the
desert in Exodus. People just are unable to cope with not getting their way.
That is called selfishness or egotism, not caring for others. The world is
devolving into partisan warfare. Of course Scripture tells us that would
happen. The dark side would rattle like empty skeletons of toxic ooze, biting,
throwing rocks, and shooting anyone who would disagree.This is not about gun control; it is about
the human heart. Jeremiah the Prophet said 700 years before Christ when Israel
was in exile, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who
can know it?” The heart is the
place of emotions, left alone; it will go for the throat. That’s just the way
it is unless a spiritual purification process and transformation of the mind
and heart has taken place.

In 2 Corinthians
11, Paul goes through his litany of trials and sufferings at the hand of men
that he had undergone for the sake of the gospel. Persecution at the time was
rampant and it seems that it is rising up again. Just watch liberal legislators
excoriate Christians on national TV. Or how about just trying to kill them all.
It seems like we have entered into the continual showings of Designated Survivor, a very graphic show
of good versus evil. The evil is trying to take down the President of the
United States to have their own government of chaos. It is just a little too
real.Well Paul was harassed by the
angry religious leaders to the point of trying to kill him. So, he was lowered
from the city walls in a basket to escape.

This basket
incident portrays my title. We have gone so far that the same words of my own
mother echo in my head. She frequently referred to the state of affairs in our
country even in the 70’s as uncivil and bellicose. Her older son was in Viet
Nam, her other on the way, and riots were in the streets. It was the beginning
of the end for respect of authority and civilized behavior. The “1000 points of
light” of the Bush years were present; for there will always be a remnant of
those trying to be caring to others.

I am
beginning a Bible study of Daniel now. He was an Israelite taken captive into
slavery for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (today’s Syria and Iraq). He watched
while his friends were thrown into the firry furnace. But God Himself saved
them for their faith in Him alone. The times arose for Daniel to be thrown into
the lions’ den for the same faith. God again held the lions’ jaws open and said
to him through an angel,

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are
deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong! ”As he spoke
these words, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Now you may speak, my
lord, for you have strengthened me” (Daniel 10:19).The Lord is our strength and He
will not be vanquished. His plans are good and for a hope and future for
those who love Him. Not so for those who don’t. So be alert and careful, full
of wisdom for the times are perilous. We are a chosen people so we must let our
lights so shine that others would se God and He would be glorified before it
is too late.